Ericsson 4 leads Telefonica Blue around the bottom mark in the Light In-Port race in Rio de Janeiro. Image copyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.
by Volvo Ocean Race media and SailRaceWin
Light was the sponsor's name for the Volvo Ocean Race's Rio In-Port race, and the weather conditions matched the name well. After a two hour delay, one race was finally held when the sea breeze reached the course area.
Start of the Light In-Port race in Rio, with Puma approaching the line on port tack behind Delta Lloyd. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
Green Dragon started at the pin end of the line, with most of the fleet on starboard to weather. However, PUMA went for a committe boat port tack start, just crossing behind Delta Lloyd, the weather-most starboard tack boat.
The Volvo Open 70 fleet on the first beat of the Light In-Port race in Rio de Janeiro. Image copyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.
Up the beat, Green Dragon initially looked good but was pinned in place by the boats to weather of her. She and the two Telefonicas went too far left and overstood the gate in the middle of the leg.
At the midway gate, Ericsson 3 and PUMA were leading neck-and-neck to the top mark. PUMA's port gamble has paid handsomely.
Situation just after the gate on leg 1 of the Light In-Port race in Rio. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race.
At the top mark, it was PUMA from the Ericsson duo (3 then 4), Telefonica Black, Telefonica Blue, Delta Lloyd with Green Dragon paying a heavy price for getting squeezed after the start.
First downwind leg in the Light In-Port race in Rio. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
Big gains for Telefonica Blue and Delta Lloyd on the right-hand side of the course downwind, while Ericsson 3 lost out in the three-boat gybing duel with the sisterhip and PUMA to the bottom mark.
Leg 2 of the Light In-Port race in Rio. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race.
Bouwe Bekking's Blue boat, with Iker Martinez as skipper for the in-port race, goes from mid-pack to the lead at the bottom mark with Delta Lloyd, after a brilliant recovery from the rear of the field, bringing a nice puff of wind downwind, rounding in second, and PUMA is third.
Bottom mark roundings on the Light In-Port race in Rio. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race.
Then follows Ericsson 4, Ericsson 3, Green Dragon and Telefonica Black. Upwind on leg 3, a big split develops. Ericsson 3's day is ruined by having to do a penalty turn.
Positions on leg 3 just after the gate, showing Ericsson 3's penalty turn just before the gate, for tacking too close to Telefonica Black. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race.
The real battle is on for the podium position - and Brazilian bragging rights: Delta Lloyd v. Ericsson 4 for third place (Marcelo Ferreira and Andre Fonseca v. Torben Grael and co.).
Ericsson 4, Green Dragon and Telefonica Black battle for fourth, fifth and sixth positions on the final downwind leg of the Light In-Port Race in Rio. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race.
Telefonica Blue maintains her lead at the top mark for the second time in an impressive display from Bouwe Bekking and Iker Martinez. The home straight beckons and some well-earned points to add to their overall tally.
PUMA is second, Delta Lloyd third, Ericsson 4, Green Dragon, Telefonica Black and the hapless Ericsson 3. If positions stay this way, with a couple of boats sandwiched between the Blue boat and Ericsson 4, they will gain overall points on Torben Grael's men.
Telefonica Blue won the Light In-Port Race in Rio. PUMA finish second. Delta Lloyd grabbed the final podium place by just metres from Ericsson 4.
Fifth was Telefonica Black, just pipping Green Dragon to the line and Ericsson 3 finished last, after that penalty turn knocked her down the fleet.
That was it for the day with the Race Committee running out of time to stage a second race following a two-hour delay to the first after the sea breeze took a while to make its presence felt.
LIGHT IN-PORT RACE RIO: RESULTS
1. Telefonica Blue - 4 pts
2. PUMA - 3.5
3. Delta Lloyd - 3
4. Ericsson 4 - 2.5
5. Telefonica Black - 2
6. Green Dragon - 1.5
7. Ericsson 3 - 1
OVERALL STANDINGS
1. Ericsson 4 - 66 pts
2. PUMA - 56.5
3. Telefonica Blue - 54.5
4. Ericsson 3 - 44.5
5. Green Dragon - 41
6. Telefonica Black - 23
7. Delta Lloyd - 15
8. Team Russia - 10.5
Volvo Ocean Race
No comments:
Post a Comment